Wiley-Blackwell Tropical Forest Conservation and Industry Partnership: An Experience from the Congo Basin (Conservation Science and Practice)

Historically, the conservation of forests and wildlife has focused on the creation of national parks and reserves. However, only 9% of protected areas are larger than 14,000 hectares, likely making them too small to conserve ecosystem services and prevent loss of wide-ranging keystone species such as elephant and leopard. New approaches are needed that extend conservation beyond protected area boundaries into areas where economic considerations prevail. The book describes one such emerging model of conservation: the integration of the private sector into partnerships to protect biodiversity and improve forest management. While such partnerships are being created in nearly every sector of resource extraction, detailed analyses of how such partnerships work and whether they benefit biodiversity conservation are rare. Using a case study from the Congo Basin, the book examines principles of conservation and partnership, and provides technical and methodological details to replicate an innovative conservation model. It presents concrete solutions for expanding conservation across multi-use landscapes, a necessary action as industry expands to all the corners of the globe. Review “In summary, the book presents methods for integrating the private sector into partnerships (with NGOs and government) with the combined aim of protecting biodiversity beyond protected area boundaries and expanding conservation activities across multiuse landscapes.”  (Ecological Management & Restoration, 19 May 2014)“This book has much to offer to this discussion and should be widely read by conservation practitioners and those in the business world interested in contributing to biodiversity conservation through good business practices.”  (Oryx, 1 October 2012)   From the Inside Flap Historically, the conservation of forests and wildlife has focused on the creation of national parks and reserves.  However, only 9% of protected areas are larger than 14,000 hectares, likely making them too small to conserve ecosystem services and prevent loss of wide-ranging keystone species such as elephant and leopard. New approaches are needed that extend conservation beyond  protected area boundaries into areas  where economic considerations prevail.    The book describes one such emerging model of conservation: the integration of the private sector into partnerships to protect biodiversity and improve forest management.  While such partnerships are being created in nearly every sector of resource extraction, detailed analyses of how such partnerships work and whether they benefit biodiversity conservation are rare.  Using a case study from the Congo Basin, the book examines principles of conservation and partnership, and provides technical and methodological details to replicate an innovative conservation model.  It presents concrete solutions for expanding conservation across multi-use landscapes, a necessary action as industry expands to all the corners of the globe. From the Back Cover Historically, the conservation of forests and wildlife has focused on the creation of national parks and reserves.  However, only 9% of protected areas are larger than 14,000 hectares, likely making them too small to conserve ecosystem services and prevent loss of wide-ranging keystone species such as elephant and leopard. New approaches are needed that extend conservation beyond  protected area boundaries into areas  where economic considerations prevail.    The book describes one such emerging model of conservation: the integration of the private sector into partnerships to protect biodiversity and improve forest management.  While such partnerships are being created in nearly every sector of resource extraction, detailed analyses of how such partnerships work and whether they benefit biodiversity conservation are rare.  Using a case study from the Congo Basin, the book examines principles of conservation and partnership, and p